Typewriter sheet end indicator



July 5, 1949. E. E. MccoY, JR

TYPEWRITER SHEET END INDICATOR 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed March 14, 1947 INVENTOR. ??we MCC@ ,fg

A TTU/NEYJ July 5, 1949. E. E. MccoY, JR

TYPEWRITER SHEET END INDICATOR Filed March 14, 1947 Patented July 5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE TYPEWRITER SHEET END INDICATOR Ernest E. McCoy, Jr., Jackson, Miss.

Application March 14, 1947, Serial No. 734,805

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in typewriting machines and particularly to improved means included in a typewriting machine for indicating the approach of the end of a sheet or a stack of superimposed sheets of paper passing through the machine.

It has been previously proposed to apply sheet end signalling or indicating, devices to typewriters. These previously proposed devices, however, have required rather extensive modifications to the typewriter mechanism, have interfered in greater or less degree with the operation of the typewriter, have been generally unreliable in operation and have embodied other defects and deiiciencies which have limited their use and greatly restricted their commerical success.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an improved sheet end signalling device for a typewriter which device requires no material modification of the conventional typewriter parts, which is economical and easy to install, which is reliable in use and is not liable to operational breakdowns, is convenient to use, does not noticeably change the appearance of the typewriting machine upon which it is mounted, and does not require any special care in the placing oi the sheets of paper in the typewriting machine in order to render it satisfactorily operative.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description in :conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a typewriter particularly showing a typewriter carriage and illustrating the application thereto of sheet end signalling means illustrative of the invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the upper portion of the typewriter illustrated in Figure 1, showing the application thereto of sheet end signalling means illustrative of the invention, the platen knob at the left hand end of Figure 1 being omitted to better illustrate the application of the sheet end signalling means to the typewriter.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through a signal device comprising a battery casing, batteries and a light bulb connected with the battery.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of an electrically conductive roller constituting a portion of the sheet end signalling means.

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the battery casing shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 3.

Figure '7 is a perspective view of a hood or shield for the light bulb shown in Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a perspective View of a spring member constituting a Contact brush included in the electrical system of the sheet end signalling means, and

Figure 9 is a perspective View of another spring contact member included in the electrical system of the device.

With continued reference to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 1, the typewriter comprises a frame or housing I0 upon which is mounted a slidable carriage, generally indicated at II, including a rotatable platen I2, a paper guide or shield I3 and other paper feed mechanism as found in a conventional typewriter and including a pair of rollers I4 and I5 parallel to the platen I2. The rollers I4 and I5 are carried on pivoted levers, as indicated at I6 and I'I and are spring urged toward the platen in order to press the paper rmly against the platen so that it will be moved as the platen is rotated step by step by the line spacing mechanism of the typewriter.

When a conventional typewriter is in use the bottom end of the paper or paper stack or manifold upon which typing is being done, is not visible from the front of the typewriter as it is not only obscured by the upper portion of the paper sheet or sheets, but as the typing appreaches the bottom of the sheet, is rolled down behind the platen into the space between the platen and the shield I3. It is therefore impossible for the operator of the typewriter to know just how near the end of the sheet is as the typing progresses along the bottom portion of the sheet without taking a considerable amount of time and going to a great amount of trouble to constantly measure the typed portion of the sheet or to count the number of lines already typed. The main purpose of the present invention is to advise the operator by suitable means, such as a visible signal, when the typing has reached a location a few lines from the end of the sheet. Thus, if the operator is advised by the appearance of the signal that there is space left at the bottom of the sheet for only a few, say eight or ten, lines of typing the operator will be greatly assisted in properly framing the sheet to provide a neat appearance of the typing.

For example, the operator can then decide Whether to terminate the sheet at the end of a particular sentence or paragraph or whether there is space to include an additional sentence on the sheet and can easily provide a uniform bottom margin on all of the typewritten sheets.

In carrying out the present invention the platen l2 is provided with a covering I8 of resilient, electrically conductive material. There has recently been developed an electrically conductive rubber material which would be entirely satisfactory for this purpose although other materials, such as synthetic resin plastics, may be used if found suitable for the purpose. The electrically conductive rubber material mentioned may be given any degree of hardness desired in providing 'a suitable covering for the platen and this covering is in electrically conductive contact with the metal cylinder I9 of the platen,

A small roller, which may ,be aseparate roller or may be one of the conventional paper gripping rollers, preferably the rear paper -gripping roller I5, is also provided with a covering of electrically conductive, resilient material, such as the electrically conductive rubber material mentioned above, which covering is in electrically conductive contact with theaXle or shaft 2l of the roller. This axle or shaft is electrically insulated from the remainder of the ymachine by suitable means as by having the bearing blocks therefor formed of insulating material.

A tubular battery casing 22 is secured to the paper guide I3 at the-back yor rear thereof, preferably substantially parallel to the platen `l 2, and is of a size to receive conventional flash-light batteries of the pen-light type. These batteries are very small, being approximately one-half inch in diameter and two inches in length so that their size and weight does Ynot in any way interfere with the operation of the typewriter carriage. Preferably two battery cells, :as indicated .at l23 and 24, are used and the tubular battery casing 22 is provided along the outer side thereof with a flanged longitudinal slot 25 which'extends `the entire length of the casing and facilitates the removal of batteries from andthe insertion of batteries into the casing.

A light bulb socket 26 is secured in one .end -of the battery casing, for example, :the left hand end as viewed in `Figure 1, and receives va light bulb 21, the position of the battery lcasing being such that the light bulb is visible lat the left hand end of the paper guide I3. The .bulb `socket 26 is so arranged that the center pole of the adjacent battery 23 contacts the center `terminal of the light bulb 21, as indicated at 2B in Figure.

A shield or hood 29 is yprovided Yfor the light bulb and comprises a resilientlyexpansive slotted cylindrical portion 30 which fts :over `the end vof the battery casing and is provided with 7a notch SI which receives the flanges provided along the sides of the battery casing slot 25, and a partly spherical portion 32 which overlies zthe portion of the light bulb at the side thereof away from the operatoriof the typewriter.

A plug 33 is fitted into the end of the battery casing 25 opposite the b ulb socket 2S and `is detachably secured therein by suitablemeans, such as the bayonet slot connection 34, Aand a compression spring 35 is positioned between this end plug and the end of the adjacent battery 24 to hold the batteries in operative position inthe casing with the center pole of battery 23 in contact with the center 'pole of the bulb at 2-8 and to provide an electrical connection from the .end of the battery 24 opposite its center pole to the plug 33. The end of spring .35 opposite the end 4 insulated wire 35 to one side of a manually operable switch 36 secured to the paper guide i3 and positioned behind the paper guide at the right hand end thereof as viewed in Figure 1, in position such that the switch toggle 31 extends to the right of the paper guide. The switch 36 is connected by an insulated Wire 38 with a contact spring 39 mounted upon a xed support 40 on the carriage and bearing with resilient pressure on the shaft 2I ofroller I5. A second contact spring 42 is mounted on a'support 43 which may be the bearing block for the platen I2, and bears against A.an end wall of the metal cylinder I9 of the platen. .This spring is connected by an insulated wire 45 with the bulb socket 26.

With this arrangement, when roller i5 is in contact with the platen I2 an electrical circuit will be completed from the right hand end of battery :24 through wire 35', switch 3B, wire 38, spring 39, roller I5, platen I2, platen cylinder I9, kspring 42, wire 45, land bulb socket 26 tothe thimble or ferrule'of light bulb 21 and through the bulb and the center contact thereof to battery 23. Whenone or more sheets of paper are placed in the typewriter and interposedbetween roller I5 and the platen thiscircuit will be interrupted `by the paper-,but Awill be closed as soon asthe bottom end of the paper sheets has passed by roller l5, providing switch-36 is closed. The circuit is interrupted bylmanually operated switch 36 so that the bulb 21 will not be illuminated Whenvthe typewriter is not in use.

The spring 439 has an upwardly curved end portion, as is particularly illustratedin Figure 9, and :spring 42 has a cylindrical curved end portion to provide a good `electrical contact with the end wall of the platen cylinder I9, and is electrically insulated from the ixed support upon which ,it .is mounted.

The ylight bulb shield 29 maybe formed of any suitable material such as metal or plastic and if desired, ymay be formed as a complete dome shapedmember of a suitable synthetic resin plastic, one portion thereof being transparent or translucent and preferably colored to render the signal ,more noticeable to the operator. If the typewriter were equippedfor operation by a blind person, an audible signal such as a small buzzer could be substituted for the light bulb 21.

The invention may be embodied n other specic forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all 'changes which come within lthe meaning and range of yequivalency of the y'claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

v1. A typewriting machine comprising a carriage supporting a platen having a covering of resilient, electrically conductive material; a roller parallel to said-platen and also having a covering of resilient, electrically conductive material; a battery case mounted on said carriage having a bulb socket at one end thereof and a light bulb in said socket; a battery in said battery case; and `electrically conductive means connecting one side of said light bulb directly with `one pole of the battery in said 'battery case and the other side of said light bulb with the other pole of the battery through said Lplaten and roller, whereby said light in contact with battery 24 ,is connected by fan l`75 bulb will be illuminated when said .platen and roller are in contact and will be extinguished when one or more sheets of paper are interposed between said platen and roller.

2. A typewriting machine comprising a carriage supporting a platen having a covering of resilient, electrically conductive material; a roller parallel to said platen and also having a covering of resillent, electrically conductive material; a battery case mounted on said carriage having a bulb socket at one end thereof, and a light bulb in said socket; a battery in said battery case; electrically conductive means connecting one side of said light bulb directly with one pole of the battery in said battery case and the other side of said light bulb with the other pole of the battery through said platen and roller, whereby said light bulb will be illuminated when said platen and roller are in contact and will be extinguished when one or more sheets of paper are interposed between said platen and roller; and a manually operable switch interposed in said connecting means for extinguishing said light bulb when the typewriter is not in use.

3. In a typewriter having a carriage supporting a platen and a roller in contact with said platen except when separated therefrom by interposed sheets of paper; means for indicating the passage of the ends of paper sheets from between said platen and roller comprising coverings of electrically conductive, resilient material on said platen and roller; a signal device; a source of electrical energy; and electrical connecting means between said source of energy and said signal device including said electrically conductive coverings, whereby said signal device will be energized when the passage of the ends of paper sheets from between said platen and roller permits the covering on said roller to contact the covering on said platen, said electrical connecting means including a spring mounted on said carriage and contacting an end oic said platen; a wire connecting Said spring with one side of said signal device; a second spring mounted on said carriage and contacting said roller; a wire connecting said second spring with one side of said source of electrical energy; and means electrically connecting the other side of said source of electrical energy with the other side of said signal device.

Ll. In a typewriter having a carriage supporting a platen and a roller in contact with said platen xcept when separated therefrom by interposed sheets of paper; means for indicating the passage of the ends of paper sheets from between said platen and roller comprising coverings of electrically conductive, resilient material on said platen and roller; a signal device; a source of electrical energy; and electrical connecting means between said source of energy and said signal device including said electrically conductive coverings, whereby said signal device will be energized when the passage of the ends of paper sheets from between said platen and roller permits the covering on said roller to contact the covering on said platen, said source of electrical energy comprising a battery case mounted on said carriage and a battery in said case, and said signal device comprising a bulb socket secured in one end of said battery case and a light bulb in said socket.

5. In a typewriter having a carriage supporting a platen and a roller in contact with said platen except when separated therefrom by interposed sheets of paper; means for indicating the passage of the ends of paper sheets from between said platen and roller comprising coverings of electrically conductive, resilient material on said platen and roller; a signal device; a source of electrical energy; and electrical connecting means between said source of energy and said signal device including said electrically conductive coverings, whereby said signal device will be energized when the passage of the ends of paper sheets from between said platen and roller permits the covering on said roller to contact the covering on said platen, said source or" electrical energy comprising a battery case mounted on said carriage and a battery in said case, said battery case having a slot extending lengthwise thereof to facilitate placing batteries in said case and removing them therefrom.

6. In a typewriter having a carriage supporting a platen and a roller in contact with said platen except when separated therefrom by interposed sheets of paper; means for indicating the passage oi the ends of paper sheets from between said platen and roller comprising coverings of electrically conductive, resilient material on said platen and. roller; a signal device; a source 0f electrical energy; and electrical connecting means between said source of energy and said signal device including said electrically conductive coverings, whereby said signal device will be energized when the passage of the ends of paper sheets from between said platen and roller permits the covering on said roller to contact the covering on said platen, said source of electrical energy comprising a battery case mounted on said carriage and a battery in said case, and said electrical connecting means including a manually operable switch mounted on said carriage.

7. In a typewriter having a carriage supporting a platen and a roller in -contact with said platen except when separated therefrom by interposed sheets of paper; means for indicating the passage of the ends of paper sheets from between said platen and roller comprising coverings of electrically conductive, resilient material on said platen and roller; a signal device; a source of electrical energy; and electrical connecting means `between said source of energy and said signal device including said electrically conductive coverings, whereby said signal device will be energized when the passage of the ends of paper sheets from between said platen and roller permits the covering on said roller to contact the covering on said platen, said source of electrical energy comprising a battery case mounted on said carriage and a battery in said case, said signal device comprising a bulb socket secured on one end of said battery case and a light bulb in said socket, and said electrical connecting means including a manually operable switch mounted on said carriage.

8. In a typewriter having a carriage supporting a platen and a roller in contact with said platen except when separated therefrom by interposed sheets of paper; means for indicating the passage of the ends of paper sheets from between said platen and roller comprising coverings of electrically conductive, resilient material on said platen and said roller; a signal device; a source of electrical energy; and electrical connecting means between said source of energy and said signal device including said electrically conductive coverings, whereby said signal device will be energized when the passage of the ends of paper sheets from between said platen and roller permits the covering on said roller to contact the covering on said platen, said source of electrical energy comprising a battery case mounted on said carriage and a battery in said case, said sig- 'l naldeviceV comprising a bulb socket secured one end of said'; battery case and alight bulbin said socket, and'fsaidy electrical connecting means including a spring-mountedv on said Vcarriage and contacting an end of saidplaten; a. wire connecting said springv with one side of said signal device; a second spring mounted on said carriage and contacting saidv roller; a Wire connecting said second spring with one side of said battery; means electrically connecting the other side of said battery with the other side of said signal device; and. a manually operable switch interposed between said second spring and said battery.

ERNEST E. MCCOY, JR.

8 REFERENCES. CITED.

The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 531,894 Ashby Jan. 1, 1895 815,644 Shea Mar. 20, 1906 1,656,491 Mau-lme Jan. 17, 1928 2,142,603 Brown et al Jan. 3, 1939 2,297,772 Johnson Oct. 6, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 17,092 France 1 913 785,302 France 1935 

